trails

Three people look at exhibits

Beacon of renewal: A new welcome center opens

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It’s a spectacular drive heading south from San Francisco on Highway 1, where under an azure sky, the furrowed Santa Cruz Mountains meet the sparkling, blue arc of the Pacific and its craggy sea stacks. In about 60 miles, the …

People in bright yellow clothes build a trail surrounded by lush foliage

Sneak peek at 2 new Lost Coast trails

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About 225 miles north of San Francisco, the rugged coastline forces California State Route 1 inland, leaving a 60-mile stretch of wilderness called the Lost Coast. Here, along the Pacific Ocean, the famed Lost Coast Trail offers one of the few coastal wilderness …

A wide dirt trail runs along the bottom of the frame through a dense redwood forest. Dappled sunlight is on the ground.

Hikers are stoked about these 5 Bay Area redwood trails

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Redwood forests are great places to connect with nature, friends, and family, especially over the holidays. Check out these highly rated hikes in the San Francisco Bay Area according to alltrails.com. Bootjack Trail Loop Mount Tamalpais State Park / Muir …

Unofficial trails including this one in Redwood National and State Parks' Grove of Titans result in trampling that can harm roots of ancient trees. Photo by Claudia Voigt

Mitigating Effects of Unofficial Trails on Ancient Redwood Groves

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And now, because of internet and mobile technology, the locations of more and more of the tallest redwoods are becoming public knowledge, drawing more people to these giants. This often leads to people blazing their own trails either because the officially designated trail does not provide close access, or because there is no official trail to a specific tree or grove. These unofficial trails are called social trails. So, just how great is the impact of these unofficial trails?

Boy Scout Orchestrates Amazing Park Project

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Not many high school sophomores can say they’ve orchestrated major infrastructure improvements on public land — but Joseph Haas can. At age 14, Joseph (now 15) spearheaded the installation of four sturdy new bridges at a California redwoods state park.

Find out how Joseph did it.

The Funny Thing About Trails…

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It’s a funny thing about trails. For me, they carry a lot more significance than their linear simplicity would imply. Not just because I know firsthand what it takes to build them, but because through every phase of life and all …

John Muir

John Muir, the Legend

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If you have spent any time in the amazing natural areas of California, you won’t go very far without experiencing the presence of John Muir — a man who did more for the conservation of our beautiful wild places during …

Hit the trails this Saturday for National Trails Day!

All Our Trails Have to Offer

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This Saturday is National Trails Day®! Whenever I think about hiking on one of the over 200,000 miles of trails we have in the U.S., the lyrics of one of my favorite Ani DiFranco songs pop into my head: When …

Celebrating National Trails Day

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I talk a lot about the importance of parks and wild places, the beautiful scenery and interesting wildlife they contain, but this week I’m putting the spotlight on one of my favorite features of our open spaces: trails. My appreciation …